Yohanes 8:48-50

8:48 The Judeans ¹  replied, ²  “Aren’t we correct in saying ³  that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” ⁴  8:49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, ⁵  but I honor my Father – and yet ⁶  you dishonor me. 8:50 I am not trying to get ⁷  praise for myself. ⁸  There is one who demands ⁹  it, and he also judges. ¹⁰ 

[8:48]  ¹ tn Grk “the Jews.” See the note on this term in v. 31. Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (“Judeans”; cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e) who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts (8:20) and had initially believed his claim to be the Messiah (cf. 8:31). They had become increasingly hostile as Jesus continued to teach. Now they were ready to say that Jesus was demon-possessed.

[8:48]  ² tn Grk “answered and said to him.”

[8:48]  ³ tn Grk “Do we not say rightly.”

[8:48]  ⁴ tn Grk “and have a demon.” It is not clear what is meant by the charge Σαμαρίτης εἶ σὺ καὶ δαιμόνιον ἔχεις (Samarith" ei su kai daimonion ecei"). The meaning could be “you are a heretic and are possessed by a demon.” Note that the dual charge gets one reply (John 8:49). Perhaps the phrases were interchangeable: Simon Magus (Acts 8:14-24) and in later traditions Dositheus, the two Samaritans who claimed to be sons of God, were regarded as mad, that is, possessed by demons.

[8:49]  ⁵ tn Grk “I do not have a demon.”

[8:49]  ⁶ tn “Yet” is supplied to show the contrastive element present in the context.

[8:50]  ⁷ tn Grk “I am not seeking.”

[8:50]  ⁸ tn Grk “my glory.”

[8:50]  ⁹ tn Grk “who seeks.”

[8:50]  ¹⁰ tn Or “will be the judge.”